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Engineering students show off capstone projects

Engineering students show off capstone projects

Mechanical engineering senior Jackson Siu, right, explains the airbag design for an alternative seat system for the Orion space capsule during the College of Engineering's Spring 2009 Design Showcase on Wednesday, April 29, in the Annex Gym at the Bryce Jordan Center. At the event engineering students present their projects that give solutions to real-world problems posed by industry. This particular project was sponsored by NASA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Industrial engineering student Allison Lancos demonstrates a cake centering device designed for Rich's, a food manufacturer. Lancos and her team had to devise a way to keep a cake properly centered so that icing can be properly applied.

Mechanical engineering senior Derek Pettner, right, demonstrates a bionic hand. The unit is designed to help quadriplegics grasp objects and is sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Spinal Support Group. Pettner's team was dubbed "Team Get-A-Grip."

Mechanical engineering senior Caitlin McVay, left, gives someone a closer look at her team's lighted grease gun hose. McVay said she hopes the project, which is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center, will one day be available commercially.

Bioengineering students Kristina Snyder, left, Brittany Flaherty and Anna Han run some tests on Mashavu. The team's project focuses on providing low-cost health monitoring for African children by using existing medical and communications technology.

Brandon Shrader, a senior in mechanical engineering, troubleshoots TRASC, a wheelchair stair climber. The project, sponsored by the Hershey Medical Center's Spine Center, aims to create a method for wheelchair users to get up a flight of steps.